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Melky gets high praise from manager

Melky gets high praise from manager

Melky Cabrera breaks his bat as he records a single in the first inning.

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Melky Cabrera's torrid hitting since his arrival in the heart of the San Francisco order has been reminding his manager of a former teammate.

"He reminds me of a good player I've played with, and his name is Tony Gwynn," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "That's how well he's played, and that's a compliment. We're talking about one of the greatest players of the game."

After being acquired in the offseason in a trade with the Kansas City Royals, Cabrera has been more than a welcome addition to the Giants lineup. Entering Monday's game, Cabrera was hitting .426 in May with three home runs and 17 RBIs, and his .369 average ranked second in the National League.

Bochy noted Cabrera's ability to hit to all fields and run the bases in his comparison to Gwynn, who teamed with Bochy on the San Diego Padres from 1983 to '87.

"I knew [Cabrera] was a pretty good all-around player, a switch-hitter who could play anywhere in the outfield," Bochy said. "But on offense, he's better than I even thought. That's how good he has played."